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| Keshi's team again lacked bite in front of goal against Mexico |
"Mexico's Euro stars trying to adapt; Keshi's Uche reluctance hurts Nigeria"
What we learned:
Mexico: Mexico had a dangerously slow start in this match, allowing Nigeria a number of chances in the first 15 minutes. Coach Miguel Herrera is probably aware that doesn’t bode well in the World Cup.
However, he will no doubt be encouraged at how El Tri adjusted and worked back into the game with improved team play. The lack of cohesion in the squad could be due to the unfamiliarity of the European-based players with both his system and other domestic-based squad members. The time to fix this problem is limited, though, and this could affect his decisions on the final roster for Brazil 2014.
Nigeria: Nigeria’s coach, Stephen Keshi, will probably shake his head with regret over the early chances that the Super Eagles couldn’t quite convert. Still, Nigeria acquitted itself quite well, especially given the number of uncapped players involved in this match. Both goalkeepers were solid, and even if captain Vincent Enyeama isn’t going to lose his starting spot, Austin Ejide looks like an excellent backup. Nigeria also has to beware of their tendency to foul hard. If the World Cup is called tightly, they might rack up cards easily.
What needs to change:
Mexico: Herrera will change his preferred 5-3-2 formation when they pry it from his cold, dead hands. It’s up to the players to adjust, and some did so better than others. The approach doesn’t suit Andres Guardado’s darting play and short passes. That style needs a versatile striker who can create, rather than a pure poacher like Javier “Chicharito\" Hernandez.
Herrera may have also painted himself into a corner by naming Rafael Marquez his World Cup captain so early. For a back line that at times must flex into only three players, Marquez is now prohibitively slow. This was exposed by an athletic and speedy team time and again. If Marquez doesn’t have a partner who can compensate for his lack of quickness, Mexico is very vulnerable in the back.
Nigeria: Some will say that Keshi needs to be removed as coach for his refusal to bring in Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche. Uche's absence was starkly evident in a match that was crying out for an effective striker, one who gets the job done, even if the style isn’t always pretty. Keshi’s argument that Uche isn’t tactical enough is starting to ring very hollow. Nigeria needs a natural-born attacking threat up front.
It’s also clear that Nigeria didn’t seem to adjust well to Mexico’s goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa, who was having a standout match. He stopped a number of chances, and instead of devising a team play tactic to get past the goalkeeper altogether with an extra pass or a trailing player into the box, the front line of Nigeria tried going for unstoppable shots. This led to them missing the goal altogether more often than not. Thus, in the end, Ochoa’s job was easier, even as his defenders kept allowing chances.
Raising Their Hand:
Mexico: Ochoa certainly did everything he could to make Herrera question whether Jesus Corona should stay as the starter in the goalkeeping position. His timing and willingness to sacrifice himself to stop an attacking play were remarkable.
Hector Herrera also acquitted himself well with solid play, good passes and even a few shots toward the goal. Of all the European-based players on the field, he seemed to integrate the most seamlessly into the squad.
Oribe Peralta didn’t score, but the savvy veteran did come close with some chances, so he probably did his starting spot no damage. In his limited time on the field, Alan Pulido showed an initiative and nose for goal that indicated his earlier hat-trick was not a fluke.
Nigeria: No Nigerian player looked more active on the field than Liverpool’s Victor Moses. He created chances, hustled after the ball, took shots, stole the ball back and generally made himself a nonstop nuisance for Mexico. He did everything but score, leading Nigeria’s attack in the early going.
Enyeama set the tone as well with his impressive stops. It’s easy for a large crowd to rattle some players, but he kept his cool and will likely keep his post as captain for the World Cup. Ejide picked up right where Enyeama left off, making sure that the quality of the goalkeeping didn’t drop in the second half.
X factor:
Mexico: Many Mexico fans hold Hernandez as a sentimental favorite for his past heroics with Mexico, but even these loyal supporters had to be frustrated watching the player fling himself at the ball in the box so ineffectively. He’s still trying, but his lack of playing time at Manchester United has taken a brutal toll on his scoring skills. The spirit is willing, but he’s lost confidence in his own ability to execute. Strikers live and die on their self-belief. Hernandez is probably going to watch a lot of the World Cup from the bench, which would have been unthinkable a year ago.
Andres Guardado is another player who had to impress Herrera. He played like he was desperate to do so, but this resulted in him often losing the ball and killing attacking plays. His unfamiliarity with his teammates was obvious. Guardado has never been a winger who can fire in long, looping crosses to the box like Miguel Layun, and without a partner to recognize well his give-and-go approach to attacks, he floundered.
Nigeria: John Obi Mikel has matured into Nigeria’s solid veteran in the midfield. He is able to generally control the run of play and reset the squad as needed. Yet a clock with only one hand can’t tell time effectively, and this match revealed that Mikel could use another good scoring option up top to whom he can deliver passes.
Once again, Uche is conspicuous by his absence. Yet it’s better to realize how badly he is needed now than it would be for that realization to come at the World Cup. For Nigeria’s sake, one would hope Keshi reaches this conclusion.
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